-THE UNPRETENTIOUS GREEN WALL

Jul.1,2014

Many of the green wall installations done for commercial clients are right out front in the most prominent location for public view. The statement seems to be “look how green we are”. Some use elaborate patterns and corporate logos formed in planting patterns of which take a lot of time and energy to maintain.
After installing the green wall at Engine Co 29 a very different intention was revealed. The wall is located at the rear of the property on a concrete retaining wall. It was clearly intended to simply improve the quality of this outdoor space. The wall is planted with a random mixture of low maintenance plants avoiding the problems of monoculture planting.

This is the first Green wall we have installed utilizing captured rain water for irrigation. This was to satisfy lead requirements for water efficiency and very effective since green walls need more water than horizontal plants on the ground

Most notably is that this project is not at all a billboard or pretentious statement about how green or sustainable they are. It basically makes a normally dreary space a little greener for its occupants, the DC firemen.

During the install this baby praying mantis was discovered, illustrating how green walls can restore natural habitats

This installation also uses our unique rain capturing top trim. First used in an installation in the Bronx, it saved the plants in the wall when the irrigation was accidentally turned off for three weeks in the spring.

This project also captures storm water from the parking lot that is filtered and reused for truck washing and as the irrigation source for the green wall

Growers for Philly Green Wall

Visit Cicconi Farms in Jackson NJ to find better plants than any of the national home center chain stores.